January 2018- DIAL/SELF takes ownership of renovated house in Northampton for affordable youth housing.

NORTHAMPTON, MA. –The Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals in partnership with DIAL/SELF Youth & Community Services identified a need for supportive affordable housing in the greater Northampton area for unaccompanied youth 18-24 experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless to have supportive affordable housing. The Friends launched a fundraising campaign in January of 2016 to gather resources to acquire rehab and potentially construct 8-10 bedrooms worth of housing with the goal of turning the property over to DIAL/SELF to run programing similar to that which DIAL/SELF already operates in Franklin County.

After a year of fundraising and scouting properties, the two agencies found a property that appeared to meet all the many selection criteria required. On a bus line, centrally located, near the bike trail, healthcare, banking and schools. The plan is to renovate the existing structure to create two 2-bedroom apartments, and then build 4 enhanced single room occupancy efficiency apartments and program space on the empty lot. The project will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will be renovation of the existing structure so that 4 bedrooms become available by February 2018. Phase 2 timing will be dependent on cost estimates and continued fundraising progress. The current goal is to have the new building completed by Winter of 2018-2019.

October 2, 2017 -

US Health & Human Services awards $973,630 for DIAL/SELF to help with Youth Housing Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-2nd District) announced that DIAL/SELF Youth & Community Services will receive $194,726 annually in grant funds over the next 5 years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The funding will be used to support DIAL/SELF’s existing transitional living program which is part of a comprehensive array of outreach, prevention, and other housing & supportive services for homeless and unstably housed youth.

“DIAL/SELF has a forty year track-record in our community of successfully implementing effective, innovative programs that lift up at-risk youth to help them make the transition from childhood to adulthood,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “I applaud their great work, and I know this funding will allow them to expand their services to a new generation of young people, giving them the guidance they need to become engaged, productive members of their community.”

The region sees a large number of transient youth who move in and out of homelessness; lack stable connections to school and housing; sometimes demonstrate persistent substance abuse problems; or have unstable relationships with their families. Many youth are reconnected with family and stabilize through engagement in ongoing prevention and aftercare services provided through DIAL/SELF drop-in and case management services.

The HHS TLP contract legislation has a goal to help runaway and homeless youth between the ages of 16 through 21 years establish sustainable living and well-being for themselves. Four key outcome areas for the programing include stable housing, education/employment, permanent connections and social and emotional well-being.

While about $6,000 per year less than the prior five years, the new 5-year contract will open up eligibility for services to youth in the Hampshire County area. Previously the contract only allowed services in Franklin County and the North Quabbin. “The ability to support services in Hampshire County couldn’t come at a better time”, according to DIAL/SELF Executive Director, Phillip Ringwood. “We have been working with the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals for the last 2 years to create new housing options in the Northampton area, and the first 2 bedroom apartments should be ready for move-in sometime in November. We are also building another 4 efficiency apartments in 2018 and these funds will be able to help support youth in those apartments.”

The timing of this grant award also coincides with DIAL/SELF’s annual Awards Gala, which will include a celebration of the agency’s 40th anniversary. On Thursday, October 26th from 6-8pm at St. James Church in Greenfield, MA, the agency will present its 3 annual awards. This year the awardees include: MA Representative Stephen Kulik receiving the Carolyn Herrick DIAL/SELF Community Champion Award; Jay Molina, Program Participant Alumni Award; and Mark Rodriguez, Current Program Participant Award.

DIAL/SELF is a non-profit agency created in 1977, whose mission is to help young people become independent by connecting them with housing, employment, education and civic opportunities. Over its 40 years, more than 40,000 area youth have benefited from agency programming in Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire Counties and the North Quabbin Region. For more information see http://www.dialself.org or contact Phillip Ringwood at 413-774-7054 x115.

August 12, 2017 - Congratulations and thank you to board member Alyssa Valbona who exceeded her $600 fundraising goal at the Bridge of Flowers Race with a total of $641.

July 13, 2017 - DIAL/SELF welcomed Matthew Leger-Small as a new board member.

April 13, 2017 - DIAL/SELF welcomed Holly Fitzpatrick as a new board member.

December 11, 2016 - The members of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Northfield donated over $500 to help create 80 holiday gift bags for area youth. Each bag included a hat and gloves, a gift card, chapstick, candy and hot chocolate.

March 1, 2016 -The Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals plans to purchase a house to offer local homeless young people a safe home base with support services for building a healthy, independent life. The property will be furnished and made ready for occupation and then it will be deeded to DIAL/SELF for maintenance and provision of services. The Friends have already raised $150,000 of their $700,000 goal.

February 24, 2016 - Rite Aid presented DIAL/SELF with a $7,500 check for signing up 25+ new customers to the KidsCents program.

November 26, 2015 - Congratulations to the first place male and female winners of the 5K Sachem Scamper, Raymond Surya and Heidi Fortin. 75 walkers and runners turned out to burn off some pre-Thanksgiving dinner calories!

November 12, 2015 - Sacha Green-Atchley joined the Board of Directors.

October 30, 2015 - Orange Teen Housing and the North Quabbin office at 13-15 East Main Street reopened with 10 studio apartments and a first floor collaborative office space for DIAL/SELF and other community organizations. The Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony took place from 10 AM until noon.

September 19, 2015 - An innaugural golf tournament was held at Thomas Memorial Golf Course in Turners Falls. Although the turnout was smaller than expected, this will become an annual event.

January 8, 2015 - DIAL/SELF thanked former board members Caitlin McKenna, Lukas Martin and Jessica Pollock for their service and welcomed new board members Jaimye Hawkins and Alyssa Valbona.

November 14, 2014 - DIAL/SELF RISE AmeriCorps participated in and coordinated a state wide service project in Greenfield for 50+ AmeriCorps members from across the state. Read more here.

September 19, 2014 - DIAL/SELF is one of six charities in the state and the only one in Western Massachusetts to be chosen to participate in the RiteAid KidCents program.

March 30th, 2014 – DIAL/SELF’s 13th annual Badminton Bash took place at the NMH Campus for a day filled with birdie fun. Teams filled the courts and helped to raise about $12,000 for local youth services. Thanks to all the sponsors, players and donors that helped to make the Bash such a great success.

December 12th, 2013 – DIAL/SELF took part in the Valley Gives day of online giving in the Pioneer Valley. Thank you to our supporters who donated a total of $2,000 to support the agency.

November 28th, 2013 – DIAL/SELF’s Sachem Scamper 5K race took place at 9 AM in Greenfield on Thanksgiving morning. Often referred to as a “Turkey Trot", this cross country trail race was a great way to burn off some extra calories while supporting the services and opportunities for area young people. Thank you to the 47 runners and 12 walkers who raised nearly $1,000.

November 23, 2013 - Teens Helping Teens! The 5th Annual Powder Puff football game between the Franklin County Technical School and Pioneer Valley Regional School took place in Turners Falls on Saturday, November 23rd at 11 AM. Admission proceeds of $1,096 and a dozen large boxes of non-perishable food items were donated to DIAL/SELF.

Greenfield High School hosted a Powder Puff football game at 6 PM at Vet's Field in Greenfield organized by the classes of 2014 and 2015. In spite of the inclement weather, community members donated $100 and six boxes of non-perishable food items.

November 1st, 2013 – DIAL/SELF is taking part in a new State pilot program designed to provide housing support to homeless and chronically homeless LGBT young adults 18 -24 in the greater Franklin/Hampshire region.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Act, House Bill 3838, created state funding to address youth homelessness and its adverse effects on the community. This bill was inspired in part by the work of DIAL/SELF. See a quick fact sheet on the bill by clicking here.